Portable refrigerator tank



Dec. 15 1925- c. B. LONGSTRETH PORTABLE REFRIGERATOR TANK Filed April a. 1925 Jrvvanfot C'harles ,8 Zonysfretfi.

Patented Dec. 15, 1925.

UNITED. STATES CHARLESI B. LONGSTRETH, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

PORTABLE REFRIGERATOR TANK.

Application filed April 6, 1925. Serial m). 20,975.

To all whom it may concern:

Be 1t known that I, CHARLns B. LONG- s'rmarn, a citizen of the United States, re-.

siding at Denver, in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Refrigerator Tanks; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this application.

This invention has reference to improvements. in tanks for refrigerator cases.

It is quite common to employ refrigerator cases that rest upon the counterand which are well provided with glass panels which gives them the appearance ofshow cases. These cases are employed extensively in stores for displaying meats and other perishable supplies. In order to obtain the de sired low temperature, these cases are proyided with a compartment for the reception of tanks that contain the freezing mixture, which is ordinarily composed of cracked ice and coarse salt. These tanks are usually 39 refilled every day and for that purpose they are generally removed from the case and replaced after they have been refilled. With the ordinary rectangular tank having one side open, this is a rather ditlicult job, as the brine which results from the melting of the ice is liable to spill out. It is the object of this invention to produce a portable tank that is so constructed that it, the freezing mixture, can readily be packed into it, and which can be conveniently carried without danger of spilling the brine. Another object is to produce a tank of neat appearance and simple substantial construction that can be cheaply constructed.

The above and other objects that will be come apparent as the description proceeds are attained by means of a construction which I will now proceed to describe in detail, reference for this purpose being had to the accompanying drawing in which my invention is shown in its present preferred form and" in which:

Fig. 1 a transverse section taken on line 1 1, Fig. 2 and shows my improved tank i Pla e s e era o Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2, Fig. 1; y i

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of my improved tank;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of my tank and Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on line 5-5, Fig. 4.

In Figs. 1 and 2 I have shown respectively a transverse and a longitudinal section of a refrigerator ease of the type employed for displaying meats, etc, in stores. This case has been shown merely for the purpose of better illustrating the use of my improved tank and will therefore not be described with greater particuliarity than necessary. The case has a bottom 1 and a top comprising two horizontal portions 2 and 3 connected by an inclined section l. Underneath the part 2 is a compartment 5 that is separated from the remainder of the casing by an insulating partition 6 to the outer side of which a mirror 7 is secured. It will be noted that the wall 6 is spaced from the casing, both at the top and the bottom for a purpose that will hereinafter appear. Access to the chamber 5 can be had through openings in the top part 2, which openings are normally closed by covers 8. Within the chamber 5 and located directly below the openings referred to are refrigerating tanks 9 which are constructed in the manner shown in Figs. 3, 4t and 5.

These tanks consist of a cylindrical section v 9 of slightly oval or oblong C1OSS-SGCl3lOI1. One end is closed by member 10 which I shall refer to as the bottom. This bottom member extends substantially transversely of the tank. The other end which I have designated by numeral 11 is cut on a slant so that the upper part overhangs the lower in the manner shown in Figs. 4: and A wall member 12 partly closes the end ll, which I shall refer to as the top. This wall member has its upper edge somewhat above the horizontal axes of the tank and is upwardly and inwardly inclined in the manner shown in Fig. 5. Secured to the bottom of the tank are feet 13 which serve to hold it in proper position with respect to the support, a handle 14 is secured to the upper side of the tank near its top. When the tank is lifted by means of the handle 14, it has a tendency to assume a perpendicular position which enables it to be carried without any danger of spilling the contents,

Let us now assume that the tank is empty and that it desired to fill it with broken ice and salt. The tank is placed on the floor or on a table so as to stand on its bottom 10. Broken ice and salt is then poured in through the opening in the top. The inclined curved wall 12 acts somewhat as a funnel and directs the material into the opening. lVhen the tank has been filled to the extent shown in Fig. 5, the tank is placed into the casing where it occupies a position like that shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The height of the wall 12 is such that when the ice is melted the resultant brine will not overflow. When the ice has become melted the tank is removed and emptied after which it is refilled in the manner described. lVhen the tanks are in place in r the casing, a circulation of the air is set up which cools the entire contents of the case.

I want to call particular attention to the advantages of my tank over the ordinary square open tank. In the first place it has a neater appearance then it can be more easily emptied and even in filling this tank has an advantage over the ordinary tanks as the mixture can be packed quite solidly in place. The end wall 12 extending upwardly part way across the tank permits the tank to occupy a horizontal position and prevents the contents fromiflowing out. The inward and upward inclination of the Wall 12 permits easy filling as the mixture slides along this wall.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new is:

1. A portable refrigerator tank adapted to receive a freezing mixture consisting of broken ice and salt whose volume decreases as it melts, comprising an elongated tubular body member having one end completely closed by a transverse member which forms the bottom when the tank stands vertically, the other end being partially closed by a transverse member that extends upwardly from one side to such a distance that when the tank lies with its axis horizontal, its capacity for liquid will. be sufficient to hold all the liquid that results from the melting of a full charge of freezing mixture, said tank being also provided with supports for holding the tank in a horizontal position.

2. A portable refrigerator tank adapted to receive a freezing mixture consisting of broken ice and salt whose volume decreases as it melts, comprising an elongated tubular body member having one end completely closed by a transverse member which forms the bottom when the tank stands vertically, the other end being partially closed by a transverse member that extends upwardly from one side to such a distance that when the tank lies with its axis horizontal, its capacity for liquid will be sufficient to hold all the liquid that results from the melting of a full charge of freezing mixture.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CHARLES B. LONGSTRETH. 

